Echinacea plant named ‘BullEchipur 106’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Echinacea plant having a compact growth habit and numerous, white colored blooms.

Botanical classification: Echinacea purpurea.

Varietal denomination: ‘BullEchipur 106’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Echinaceaplant known by the varietal name ‘BullEchipur 106’. The new variety wasdiscovered in August of 2020 in Gönnebek, Germany as the result of aplanned breeding program with the purposes of providing Echinacea plantswith unique flower colors, a compact growth habit, increased branching,and more uniformity when compared to prior Echinacea plants. The newvariety is the result of a cross between an unpatented Echinaceapurpurea variety from the internal breeder's reference of “Bul Mix2018-01” (female parent) and open pollination from a collection ofunpatented Echinacea purpurea varieties referred to as “Bul Mix 2018-07”from the breeder's own collection. As such, the exact male parent fromthis collection is unknown. The new variety was first asexuallyreproduced via in-vitro tissue culture cuttings in Gönnebek, Germany inSeptember of 2020. The new variety is similar to its parental varietiesin botanical classification, but exhibits a more compact growth habitand different flower color than both of its parental varieties. Further,‘BullEchipur 106’ exhibits better branching than its female parent thathas from 7-12 branches and smaller leaves than any of its possible maleparents.

When ‘BullEchipur 106’ is compared to Echinacea purpurea variety named‘Pas709018’ (unpatented, marketed as “PowWow White”), ‘BullEchipur 106’is similar to ‘Pas709018’ in botanical classification and exhibitingwhite ray florets, but ‘BullEchipur 106’ exhibits a more compact growthhabit (‘Pas709018’ can reach 60.0 cm in height) with increased branching(‘Pas709018’ has from 3-8 branches), more flowers (‘Pas709018’ has from5-12 flowers per plant), and smaller leaves (the leaves of ‘Pas709018’are up to 8.0 cm in width) that distinguish it from ‘Pas709018’.Further, the following characteristics distinguish ‘BullEchipur 106’when generally compared to other Echinacea varieties known to thebreeder:

-   -   White flower color;    -   High flower number per plant;    -   A very compact and uniform growth habit;    -   High branching;    -   Fast crop time; and    -   Small leaves.        The new variety has been trial and field tested and has been        found to retain its distinctive characteristics and remain true        to type through successive asexual propagations. The present        invention has not been evaluated under all possible        environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations        in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety at 22weeks of age, with the color being as nearly true as is possible withcolor illustrations of this type:

FIG. 1 shows an entire plant of the new variety.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth the characteristics of thenew variety as the result of asexual reproductions performed via invitro tissue culture cuttings carried out in Gönnebek, Germany. Plantsof the new variety were grown outdoors in 19 cm (3 liter) pots undernormal field production conditions, and the color readings andmeasurements were observed outdoors under natural light on 22 week oldplants in Gönnebek, Germany Color references are primarily to The 2015R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, SixthEdition, except where terms of ordinary significance are used.

PLANT

-   Time to initiate roots: About 7 days at approximately 19-20° C.-   Time to develop roots: About 40-50 days at approximately 18° C.-   Time to produce a finished flowering plant from a rooted cutting:    About 12-14 weeks in a 19 cm container.-   Rooting habit: Exhibits numerous roots that are freely branching and    healthy in appearance.-   Plant height: 40.0-50.0 cm.-   Plant width: 25.0-30.0 cm.-   Habit: Upright, compact, and uniform growth with numerous branches.-   Disease/pest resistance: Nothing unusual noted to date.-   Temperature tolerance: Nothing unusual noted to date.-   Drought tolerance: Average.-   Branches (flowering stems):    -   -   Number per plant.—12-20.        -   Length.—20.0-30.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—3.0-10.0 mm.        -   Internode length.—1.0-5.0 cm.        -   Angle.—Upright and outward.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Texture.—Pubescence present.        -   Color.—Close to Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Single.        -   Leaf.—Length: 4.0-20.0 cm. Width: 1.0-5.0 cm. Shape:            Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Attenuate to acute.            Margin: Entire. Aspect: Straight to curved. Rugosity:            Medium. Texture: Upper surface: Rough. Lower surface: Rough.            Color: Young leaves: Upper surface: Close to Green Group RHS            137A. Lower surface: Close to Green Group RHS 137C. Mature            leaves: Upper surface: Close to Green Group RHS 137A. Lower            surface: Close to Green Group RHS 137C. Petiole: None            present. Veins: Venation type: Cross-venulate to            longitudinal. Color: Upper surface: Close to Yellow-Green            Group RHS 145A. Lower surface: Close to Yellow-Green Group            RHS 145B.

INFLORESCENCE

-   Bud:    -   -   Diameter.—1.0-3.0 cm.        -   Length.—1.3-2.0 cm.        -   Color.—Close to Green Group RHS N138B.-   Appearance: Elliptic-shaped ray florets and tubular-shaped disc    florets.-   Natural flowering season: Flowering occurs from July-September in    Gönnebek, Germany, beginning approximately 12-14 weeks after    planting.-   Average number of inflorescences per plant: 10-30.-   Average number of inflorescences per branch: 1-3.-   Disc and ray floret arrangement: Disc florets are arranged in the    middle of the receptacle of the composite, single, freely flowering    plant, with ray florets extending outwardly therefrom.-   Fragrance: Very light and sweet.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Diameter.—4.0-8.0 cm.        -   Height (depth).—2.0-3.5 cm.        -   Diameter of disc.—1.5-3.5 cm.        -   Receptacle height.—1.0 cm.        -   Receptacle diameter.—1.5-3.5 cm.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Number per inflorescence.—25-32.        -   Arrangement.—In two or three whorls.        -   Length.—2.0-3.5 cm.        -   Width.—1.2-1.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical.        -   Apex.—Obtuse, with indentations of medium depth.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Attitude.—Semi-drooping upon emergence from the involucre.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth and glabrous. Lower surface:            Rough.        -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: Close to White Group RHS            NN155D. Lower surface: Close to White Group RHS NN155D. At            maturity: Upper surface: Close to White Group RHS NN155D.            Lower surface: Close to White Group RHS NN155D. Ground color            description: Close to White Group RHS NN155D.        -   Venation.—Appearance: Parallel. Color: Upper surface: Same            color as the florets. Lower surface: Same color as the            florets.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Number per inflorescence.—Numerous; too many to quantify.        -   Arrangement.—In the center of receptacle.        -   Length.—8.0-15.0 mm.        -   Width.—1.0-2.0 mm.        -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Apex.—Pointed.        -   Color.—Immature: Close to Green Group RHS 138B. At maturity:            Close to Green Group RHS 138A.        -   Paleae.—Average length: 4.0 mm. Color: Yellow-green.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Number per inflorescence.—40-50.        -   Arrangement.—In three to four whorls.        -   Length.—Approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Width.—2.0-4.0 mm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Elongated oval.        -   Base.—Fused.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Rough. Lower surface: Rough.        -   Color.—Immature: Upper surface: Close to Green Group RHS            NN137C. Lower surface: Close to Green Group RHS NN137C. At            maturity: Upper surface: Close to Green Group RHS NN137C.            Lower surface: Close to Green Group RHS NN137C.-   Reproductive organs:-   Androecium:    -   -   Presence.—On disc florets.        -   Number (per floret).—One.        -   Filament length.—1.0-2.0 mm.        -   Filament color.—Light green.        -   Anther.—Shape: Oval. Length: 1.0 mm. Color: Green-yellow.        -   Pollen.—Color: Close to Yellow-Orange Group RHS 15B. Amount:            Plentiful — too much to quantify.-   Gynoecium:    -   -   Presence.—In disc and ray florets.        -   Pistil length.—1.0-2.0 mm.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Two-parted. Color: Green-yellow.        -   Style.—Length: 1.0-2.0 mm. Color: Green.-   Seeds:    -   -   Overall size.—1.0-2.0 mm.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echinacea plant named‘BullEchipur 106’, as is herein illustrated and described.